Loss to Warriors sees Thunder tie unwanted 2015-16 season honour

The Oklahoma City Thunder ended up on the wrong side of a 121-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night and, in doing so, tied a rather unwelcome 2015-16 season honour.

As noted by ESPN Stats & Info, after beginning the fourth quarter with a 83-82 lead only to leave the Oracle in defeat, Billy Donovan's team has now lost 10 games this season when having led entering the final quarter.

The Philadelphia 76ers - holders of the worst record in the NBA this season at 8-53 - are the only other team in the league to have 'achieved' the feat 10 times.

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Admittedly, the Thunder were only up by one point with 12 minutes to play against the Warriors, but the stat will still worry their fans. It can't make for easy reading for the OKC roster, either.

After blowing a 22-point lead against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Kevin Durant lamented his team's failure to finish off their Western Conference rivals. Today's statistic now suggests that their inability to see out the win was part of a worrying trend, rather than a one off.

The Thunder still remain in a strong position as the NBA playoffs approach - they're third in the West courtesy of a 42-20 record -but they will be well aware that they'll have to improve in the clutch if they are to make a deep run in the postseason.

Add the fact that the Thunder has lost six of their last eight games and there are certainly a couple of concerns bubbling below the surface in Oklahoma City.

That is not to say they cannot be addressed, however. With Durant and Russell Westbrook in their ranks, OKC will always stand a chance against any opponent.

Consistency

Donovan, meanwhile, is aware of the issue. Speaking after the loss to Golden State, the head coach said:

“No question, the start of that fourth quarter and the end of the third, it wasn’t great for us...We kind of dug ourselves into a little bit of a hole.

“I think the thing we talk about is becoming more and more consistent," Donovan continued, via Thunder.com.

"I felt like we were more consistent tonight than we were last night. We just have to get it to a point where it is for 48 minutes.”

The fact the team has given up 10 fourth-quarter leads does, at least, show they've consistently put themselves in a position to get the W.

If they can find a way to finish off games on a more consistent basis they will become a real danger to the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs in the battle for the Western Conference title.

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